Oxtail and Butter Beans Recipe (2024)

I don't often see oxtails at the market. What do you suggest as a replacement?

Jamaican here. No need to add curry as an ingredient. I like browning my oxtails without oil. Naturally, oxtails have a lot of oil. Once the oxtails are browned…place oxtails with the seasonings in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes…remove the natural juices and place in freezer to coagulate oil from gravy for 15 minutes. Continue the recipe with gravy and oxtails as shown in the recipe. A touch of Sweet Baby Ray is the key…

Browning the oxtail is simply oil in the pan add the oxtail and stir a few times for about 5-10 minutes this helps to release the natural flavor of the oxtail during the process of boiling it after to tenderness. Trust me this step is crucial and will provide an even more delicious taste. I'm Jamaican, take it from me and you don't need to add any curry powder and you can use molasses instead of worcestsire and browning sauce for a true authentic Jamaican country style oxtail. ketchup instead

Short Ribs are a decent substitute for Oxtails

I am Jamaican born living in the us we use a whole scotch bonnet pepper in everything we cook my advice don't cut them two scotch bonnet in 4 lbs of oxtails is a very spicy pot use them but don't burst them .as i said before i cook with pepper but don't cut it open .your family not gonna enjoy that oxtails there mouth will be on gire instead.

I have also used short ribs or lamb shanks instead of oxtails and dried lima butter beans which were soaked overnight. I use a Dutch Oven start on the stove and after I bring it to a boil place it in a 325 F oven for 2 1/2 hours. I don't add the brown sauce or scotch bonnets. I use 2 tablespoons better then boullion beef paste instead of chicken and add two diced carrots. Very hearty and tasty. delicious the 2nd day.

English cut short ribs with the bone should work just fine.

A good oxtail needs to be slowly cooked for much longer than this recipe suggests. Four hours on Saturday, overnight in the fridge and three hours on Sunday. Low temperature the whole time.

When I lived in MA, just outside Boston, The local Whole Foods Market had a freezer of 'dog food'. In there, I found oxtails, liver, kidneys ... all the offal that Americans tend to feed their animals, but not themselves. the oxtails were cheap, and very good.

I love this recipe! I’ve made it and found it to be delicious with both oxtail and beef short ribs. It took a bit longer than the three hours to get the fall-of-the bone tenderness with the oxtail. I use habaneros or serranos is place of scotch bonnet peppers. I like to add an extra can of butter beans and serve with coconut rice. Makes fantastic leftovers! This is a fan favorite amongst my circle of friends.

What would be a reasonable substitute for "Jamaican curry powder"? What gives a curry powder a Jamaican flavor?

I have the same question (kosher kitchen here, so can't get anythign from the back end of the cow); I am contemplating (extremely non-traditional) flanken, as being beefy, fatty, and bony like oxtail.

Flanken would be good instead of oxtail. Beef shank? Short ribs? And instead of canned butter beans, make your own and add some of the bean cooking liquor to the stew!

Beef neckbones are a great substitute for oxtail, and FAR cheaper. Easy to find at any Asian supermarket I’ve been.

I use beef neck bones instead of oxtail.

Delicious!!! The Jamaican spice really adds something to the flavor. I never considered piercing the Scitch Bonnets before, but that a great way to add the heat!

Reading the notes below I see someone who lived outside of Boston bought oxtails from the Whole Foods in the “dog food” freezer. Having worked in the meat industry I can tell you first hand that ANY meat marked “dog food” often comes from cows with cancer or other diseases and is very old or border line rotten. Never buy “dog food” for human consumption.

I made these for my husband. I substituted jalapeño for the scotch bonnet (I don’t like it too spicy) but everything else was the same. It was DELICIOUS and my husband almost burst from the amount he ate! But he was happy 😊

I live in Orange County, CA where it can be difficult to find certain ethnic items. However, oxtails are easy to find in Mexican markets and I've even been able to find goat meat in a couple of places. Strangely enough, it's the butter beans I can't find anywhere.

As others have said, you don't need all the oil to start. Also, be sure you have all your ingredients measured and prepped because once the browning paste goes in, things begin to burn quickly. We only used one pepper and that was plenty of heat.

This my 2nd time cooking the oxtails using Chef Millie Peartree’s recipe. I had never cooked oxtails before finding this recipe. My husband said they were delicious and I agree. I even made a beef stew with the remaining gravy. Scrumptious! Thank you, Millie. Sincerely,SylviafromdabronxviaOakland

Finally made this today. Well worth searching out oxtail. I used an Indian curry powder since that is what I had. I also used fresh chipotles instead of the scotch bonnet chilies. It had enough heat and plenty of umami. Will make again during the February blizzards.

For a different twist on oxtail stew I suggest Craig Claiborne's recipe from NYT cookbook. It is not Jamaican style but it is the best oxtail recipe I have eaten, restaurans included. I say different twist because it has no hot peppers or curry. Any good meat market can order oxtails, and they are fun to eat. A favorite.

Has anyone tried this recipe with dried butter beans rather than canned? Please share your process! We can now get large dried lima beans, and we love 'em!

The best substitution for oxtails are trimmed short ribs. Once the meat is cooked properly, they are tender and extremely flavorful. No other better substitution if you really know about oxtails. You can criticize me eccentric whatever but you gotta understand the star ingredient before giving your opinion.

Is there a slow cooker version of this?

We will be having this tonight. One thing the recipe does not mention is that while cooking it should be covered!

Add glass of Cabernet Sauvignon for extra refinement

I get beef soup bones and make a stock the day before. Slow cooking the oxtail in homemade stock is a game changer. Seasoned the oxtail well the night before (skipped the curry powder). Cooked for about six hours on 275.

For those asking... there is no substitution for Oxtail.Sincerely, a Jamaican born Foodie